Abstract

Scaffold manufacturing technologies are moving towards systems that combine a precise control over scaffold 3-dimensional (3D) architecture with incorporation of cells in the fabrication process. A rapid prototyping technology, termed 3D-fiber deposition, generates 3D scaffolds that can satisfy these requirements, while maintaining a completely open porosity that can reduce nutrient diffusion limitations. This extrusion-based technique is effective in fabrication of porous thermoplastic scaffolds that function as instructive templates for seeded cells and can also be used to build viable tissue equivalents by layered deposition of cell-laden hydrogels. Therefore, this technology could accelerate and improve the assembly and functionality of tissue-engineered constructs.